Crystal Valley Blog

The annual Castle Rock Star Lighting happens this weekend! And a parade of holiday classics and contemporary performances begins, now that we’re approaching Thanksgiving and beyond. Don’t miss the festivities, all between five and 40 minutes away from the master-planned community of Crystal Valley!

TODAY/TONIGHT: Thursday-Saturday, November 21-23

JP SEARS LIVE
JP Sears is a comedian, author, and YouTuber known for his unapologetic stand for freedom and his satirical take on politics, fitness, and faith. His unique approach to comedy encourages his audience to question societal norms while embracing personal growth with laughter and authenticity. As a speaker and creator, he continues to inspire millions to find hope and freedom in the everyday absurdities.

Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl., Greenwood Village
Thurs., 7:00 p.m.; Fri./ 6:00 & 9:00 p.m.; Sat., 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$84
Phone: 720-274-6800

Thursday-Sunday, November 21-24

TOY DRIVE UNTIL DECEMBER 22

Join the Outlets at Castle Rock in spreading holiday cheer with its annual Toy Drive! Partnering with the Colorado State Patrol, and Audi Denver the Outlets aim to ensure every child in our community has a magical holiday season. Toys will be donated to kids at Children’s Hospital Aurora and the Help & Hope Center of Castle Rock. Your generosity will benefit Cancer Fighters to the Rescue and the Help & Hope Center. Together, we can make a difference!

You can drop off new or gently used toys at the Outlet donation boxes:

• Customer Service (Far East side of 3rd Street)
• Go! Calendars, Toys & Games (3rd street)
• Inconceivable Toys (5th Street)

Outlets of Castle Rock, 5050 Factory Shops Blvd., Castle Rock 
Mall Hours: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

THE NUTCRACKER
This magical full-length ballet features the music of Tchaikovsky blending a cast of professionals, members of the Colorado Youth Ballet Company, and local dancers. Presented by Parker’s very own Colorado School of Dance, this classic tale takes place on Thanksgiving Eve, 1892, as the Staulbaum family kicks off their Christmas season with a holiday party to light their new Christmas Tree.

Watch the journey of little Clara who receives a simple wooden doll, The Nutcracker, from her godfather but when her brother Fritz breaks her doll, the godfather quickly steps in to repair it, and adds a little magic to toy. Clara falls asleep, waking to a dreamland where her Nutcracker Prince turns into a real boy. Together, the Prince and Clara venture through the Land of Snow, to the Land of the Sweets, where they meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her gallant court of dancers from every kingdom. This holiday tradition is a whimsical seasonal ballet and meant for the entire family to enjoy!

PACE CENTER, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
Thurs.-Sun., 7:00 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $34

THE LITTLE MERMAID
Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid is a love story for the ages. Ariel, King Triton’s youngest daughter, wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch Ursula to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends — Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab — to restore order under the sea.

With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs, including Under the Sea, Kiss the Girl, and Part of Your World. Previews Thursday and Friday, Opening Night, Saturday, November 23.

Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs
Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $27
Info: 719-634-5583

JELLOFISH
This play by Jim Henry is a treatise on aging and life changes, with humor. Ante up and spend a fine evening with Billy, Kooch, and Earl as they play their weekly poker game while charmingly coming to grips with the inevitable passage of time.  

Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs
Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: $28

Friday, November 22

LAS MIGAS PERFORM
“…the constant for Las Migas has always been the music, which maintains at its core a delicious blending of vocal harmonies on a guitar-rich base.” -Miami New Times

With powerful vocals, dancing violin lines, sensual choreography, and upbeat rhythms of the guitar, Las Migas creates a fascinating blend of flamenco and Mediterranean styles of music from Spain. The four women of Las Migas come from four different cities that span not only the geography of Spain but also its cultural diversity. They all came to the group with one common passion: flamenco.

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $35-$50
Phone: 720-509-1000

Saturday, November 23

CASTLE ROCK STAR LIGHTING!
Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce created the beloved Star Lighting event in 1962, which celebrates the holiday season featured by the lighting of the star on top of the Rock (the star was first lit in 1936). Ongoing festivities throughout the day include strolling carolers, dance groups and other live entertainment on every corner. There’s a kid’s zone, hot chocolate and games to entertain the kiddos as well as adult beverages and plenty of food trucks. Non-profit and sponsor booths will line the streets offering holiday goodies and trinkets. Santa Claus visits and the chili supper at the Firehouse complete this Norman Rockwell experience.

The actual ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. on the main stage, with the lighting of The Star at approximately 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by fireworks.

Downtown Castle Rock, Castle Rock Square and Festival Park
2:00-6:00 p.m.
FREE

WINE TASTING AT THE CASTLE
Grapes for Italian wines are grown in every corner of Italy, home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world’s largest producer of wine and the Castle will explore some of the wonderful Italian varietals this Saturday! 

Wine aficionados Mary and Natalie will lead you through a tasting of these delicious wines in a beautiful castle setting for what promises to be an entertaining and educational event. If you love Italian wines, then this is the tasting for you. Charcuterie appetizers will accompany your tasting and afterwards you can enjoy a complimentary glass of your favorite wine and admire the Castle’s centuries-old art and antiques. A cash bar will be available to purchase additional glasses of wine or your favorite bottles to take home. 

Cherokee Ranch and Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia
Doors Open/Tours: 6:30 p.m. 
Charcuterie/Tasting: 7:00-8:15 p.m.
Complimentary Glasses & Cash Bar: 8:15 p.m.
Reservations: $62.75

Saturday-Sunday, November 23-24

BALLOONACY
A red balloon drifts through the window of a solitary old man’s home, but then some serious silliness begins. Without a single spoken word, this sweet, inventive, and uplifting show — packed with plenty of playful shtick, along with touching reminders of the ups and downs of building a friendship — is a tender and laugh-filled delight for all ages.

The lead (and only) actor in the show, Christopher Keller, was born and raised in Colorado Springs. Keller has traveled the country performing as a puppeteer and is a regular on the Millibo Art Theatre stage specializing in circus arts. “Balloonacy” is directed by the much-loved clown Jim Jackson, the co-founder and executive director of the Millibo Art Theater.

Millibo Art Theater, 1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs
Sat., 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.; Sun., 1:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15

SOMETHING ROTTEN JR.
Travel back to the Renaissance for an hour of musical comedy gold in Something Rotten! JR. Adapted from the Broadway hit that Time Out New York hailed as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years,” Something Rotten! JR. celebrates one undeniable truth: “nothing’s as amazing as a musical!”

In the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

PACE Center, The Schoolhouse, 19650 E. Mainstreet, Parker
Sat., 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $20

Sunday, November 24

BRUNCH WITH GOSSAMER WINDS
Wake up all the senses at Cherokee Castle, and enjoy the trifecta of music, history & culinary delights. Your Reservation includes a performance by Lone Tree Symphony’s Gossamer Winds Quartet, tour of the magnificent castle, and a savory and sweet Sunday brunch. 

Please arrive on time and review the timeline before making reservations. All ages are welcome. A cash bar will feature bloody Mary’s, mimosas and signature coffee drinks for purchase

Cherokee Ranch and Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia
Doors Open/Tours: 9:00 a.m. 
Cash Bar: 9:00 a.m.
Buffet Brunch: 10:00 a.m.
Performance: 10:30 a.m.
Reservations: $73.45

NEXT WEEK: Monday-Wednesday, November 25-27

WARREN MILLER’S 75
Warren Miller is going big for 75 years! Stacked with unbelievable action and unexpected stories, Warren Miller’s 75 will bring fans to powder stashes and chutes around the world, from Canada, Colorado, California, and Utah to Finland, Japan, Austria, and New Jersey. Catch a diverse lineup of snowsports legends, Olympic hopefuls, world champions, X Games stars, and emerging talents on the big screen this fall, including snowboarders Shaun White, Jeremy Jones, Danny Davis, and Toby Miller, plus skiers Max Hitzig, Lexi duPont, Caite Zeliff, Mark Abma, and Aaron Blunck.

With original segments and unique collaborations, this year’s film will set the tone for the next 75 years of ski and snowboard filmmaking. Get ready for the celebration that is 75.

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
Mon.-Wed., 7:30 p.m.; Wed., 3:30 p.m.
Tickets: $25
Phone: 720-509-1000

CHRISTMAS WITH MAT & SAVANNA SHAW
This holiday season, as families everywhere unite to celebrate together, join one musical family who has made it their mission to share hope and spread joy with people all over the world. Father/daughter duo, Mat and Savanna Shaw, present a rich holiday experience designed to invite the spirit of the season – hope, joy, and peace on earth – into every home and every heart. Since their viral rise to prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic, millions in nearly every corner of the world have turned to the Shaws’ inspiring and uplifting performances to find a renewed sense of optimism and belief in the future. This Christmas, through beautifully reimagined carols and inspiring true stories, the Shaws invite audiences to capture the joyful spirit of the season and to once again remember that home, hearth, and family are the most beautiful gifts one can receive. Join us for this not-to-be missed holiday experience, a special gift from our family to yours.

PACE CENTER, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $54

Friday, November 29

TREE LIGHTING IN PARKER’S O’BRIEN PARK
Join the Town of Parker for an enchanted evening in O’Brien Park. Gather around the park and join the Mayor and the Parker Chorale as they kick off the event with a Silent Night Sing-along! Following Silent Night, the Mayor and Town Council will count down to the Town Tree and Grand Park Lighting. After the lights have been lit, enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season with walk-around entertainment, ice sculptures, food vendors, and stage performances from Parker-area high school choirs.

O’Brien Park, 10795 Victorian Dr., Parker
5:30 p.m. Parker Chorale Accompanies Tree Lighting 
5:45 p.m. Nutcracker, Followed by School Choirs
7:00 p.m. Drawing
FREE

IRISH CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA
The hugely popular Holiday show Irish Christmas in America returns in 2024, bringing a fascinating performance of music, song, dance and stories of seasonal Irish traditions.

The show features exceptional Irish music, song and dance in a family-friendly performance rich in humor and boundless energy. Evocative photographic images provide a backdrop to some of the rich historical traditions of Ireland. Take a memorable journey into the enchanting spirit of Christmas, as the finest traditional artists from Ireland bring you on a fun-filled start to the holiday season of 2024.

Stargazers Theatre, 10 S. Parkside Dr., Colorado Springs
7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$30

Friday-Sunday, November 29-December 1

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
Sisterhood and scandal, romance and rumors, high society and…horses? Jane Austen’s Dashwood family bubbles with wit and warmth in this energetic, family-friendly adaptation of the classic novel, following sensible Elinor and sensitive Marianne Dashwood as they navigate the perilous waters of courtship and the human heart.

Featuring characters you love (and a few you’ll love to hate), this Regency romp by the playwright of Little Women  brings all the heart and humor of the original to the stage just in time for the holidays!

Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theatre, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs
Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2:00 p.m.; Sun., 4:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $20.75

Saturday, November 30

SANTA’S CIRCUS
Dive into an enchanted holiday fantasy at Santa’s Circus, where Santa and Mrs. Claus have curated a show filled with joy and laughter. Experience remarkable performers and awe-inspiring circus acts from around the world, all set in a Christmas wonderland aglow with sparkling lights and festive melodies. Don’t miss out on taking a family photo (as a complimentary gift) with Santa Claus!

Witness remarkable Christmas-themed acrobatics that blend theater, dance, and gymnastics to breathtaking stunts, astonishing skills, and take a journey through magic, illusions, comedy, and surprises. This show, decked in holiday splendor, takes you from Christmas wonder to laughter and festive warmth, promising an unforgettable spectacle. Santa’s Circus awakens the ‘inner-child’ in all of us!

PACE CENTER, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
2:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $59

SCOTCH WHISKEY TASTING AT THE CASTLE
Come join whiskey connoisseur and musician Scott Beach and share a magical night at the Castle as you enjoy Scotland’s single malt whiskey region – Speyside, home to over 80 Scottish whiskey distilleries including Macallan, Glenlivet, and Glenfiddich. This is an excellent scotch-tasting experience for veteran whiskey drinkers, bourbon whiskey drinkers and those totally new to the world of scotch whiskey, alike! 

November is the perfect time to give thanks and celebrate an amazing night of fun at Cherokee Castle with this new scotch-tasting happening. The five tastings will be accompanied by heavy appetizers and a cash bar will be open  with wine, prosecco, beer, and whiskey specials. Dress and business attire encouraged.

Cherokee Ranch and Castle, 6113 N. Daniels Park Rd., Sedalia
Doors Open/Tours/ Cash Bar: 6:30 p.m.
Appetizers: 6:45 p.m.
Presentation: 7:30 p.m.
Reservations: $83.45

IMPROV AT THE MAT
Don’t miss this opportunity to laugh at, and with, your favorite professional funny folks.
They’re busting out some old favorites and creating some new magic based on your suggestions. The RiP improv troupe has created unscripted laughs together for 18 years and present short-form, long-form, and musical improvisational comedy that is sure to have you laughing until you cry!  No two shows are ever the same, so… be prepared for an off-the-cuff, top-of-the-head, tip-of-the-tongue experience – and be ready for some audience participation to boot! Join the troupe as they start the season with a great cacophony of laughs!

The Millibo Art Theatre, 1626 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs
7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $16
Info: 719-465-6432

Sunday, December 1

CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES CHRISTMAS CANTEEN
Swing into the holidays with the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies! For the unfamiliar, Cherry Pippin’ Daddies is a genre-defying band blending swing, ska, punk and jazz to create a high-energy and unforgettable sound. Their music speaks to both die-hard swing fans and lovers of exciting music seeking something a little different.

Featuring big band holiday music and their own double platinum selling original hits, this unique, warm weather, Tiki Christmas will leave you dancing through the holidays!

PACE CENTER, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., Parker
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $59

SPINPHONY HOLIDAY SHOW
Instrumental crossover string quartet “Spinphony” is breaking down barriers between classical, rock, and pop music. Mixing and mashing catchy melodies into unique arrangements such as “Bach in Black” and “Don’t Stop Beethoven”, Spinphony is more like a rock band than a string quartet with added choreography and beats. The four stunning ladies who often get mistaken for sisters, are winning over audiences with their creative and high energy performances nationwide.

They have released three studio albums which are on the forefront of classical/rock crossover music. Their one-of-a-kind sound is refreshing and will leave audiences with a whole new appreciation for instrumental music.

Whether you’re a fan of ACDC, Vivaldi, or Bruno Mars, the Spinphony show is music that everyone will love!

Stargazers Theatre, 10 S. Parkside Dr., Colorado Springs
6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$30

Sunday-Monday, December 1-2

DOO WOP CHRISTMAS PROJECT
“The joy of the group’s performance was infectious, and it was clear the guys were having as much fun as the audience.” —MD Theatre Guide

Back by popular demand! These charismatic, handsome, triple threat Broadway stars—with their hot five-piece band—tear it up with musicality, dancing, and showmanship. They “re-doo” classic Doo Wop songs from the ’50s and ’60s and make them sound fresh and new. In this holiday spectacular, the group adds their doo-wopified flare to our favorite Christmas classics. A perfect way to kick off your holiday season!

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree
Sun., 7:00 p.m.; Mon., 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $45-$65
Phone: 720-509-1000

Tuesday, December 3

SARAH BRIGHTMAN
International singing superstar, Sarah Brightman is the world’s biggest selling Soprano. She pioneered the classical crossover music movement and is famed for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves. Sarah is the only artist to have simultaneously topped the Billboard dance and classical music charts. Her voice has rung out from theaters, arenas, cathedrals, world heritage centers and Olympic stadiums, bringing to life some of the world’s most beautiful music. Sarah’s work transcends any specific musical genre, synthesizing many influences and inspirations into a unique sound and vision. Today, she remains among the world’s most prominent performers, with global sales of 30 million units, having received more than 180 gold and platinum awards in over 40 countries, garnering over 1 billion streams worldwide.

Pikes Peak Center for Performing Arts, 190 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs

7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Start at $50
Phone: 719-575-9632

Things to Do Near Crystal Valley!

Just minutes from downtown Castle Rock is the master-planned community of Crystal Valley – where nature is around every corner of the neighborhood and recreation plus entertainment is never far from home! Looking for new surroundings and a home you can add your signature style to? Check out the beautiful models from Taylor Morrison, D.R. Horton, and Richmond American Homes with a variety of ranches to two-story designs.